Stubborn Fire Spreads, New Orleans’ Canal Street

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Firefighters are battling a fire at a commercial building on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

Fire Chief Timothy McConnell told reporters at the scene the first call came in around 3:30 a.m.

McConnell says there are businesses on the first floor, but he's not sure about the upper floors. He said the fire started on the second floor of the four-story building.
He says one person was in the building, but escaped the flames without injury.

The chief said their main concern was to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. He said the cause is under investigation.

Live television images from the scene showed flames leaping from the roof. Several blocks of Canal Street, which borders the city's French Quarter, have been closed.

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